Taking Gifting to the Next Level

Christmas is just around the corner. (Okay, a few more corners.) The trickling Christmas decors are all over the Metro and despite the intense heat, I still want to sing, "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas." And with November halfway over, I started to think... what do I want to give my loved ones and myself this holiday season?

And so... here's my shopping list this Christmas. Let's start off with my parents.

I want to give them the gift of HEALTH.

With my parents not getting any younger, I want them to stay strong and mobile. Before, I was supportive of them learning how to use the new technology but I realized how much time they wasted in just sitting and staring at small screens. 

I plan to buy them something that will make them fit. Simple free weights and workout outfits would be a nice start for this. Let's throw in a few workout videos. (Or they could just search YouTube too for that. Yay for free workout videos!)

As for my sister who looks so frail, I want to give her a bucket of fat! (I kid.)

I want to give her the gift of SUCCESS.

We all heard it before. We are how we dress. If we dress poorly, then chances are, we won't make it up the ladder (which is usually true if you want to go corporate). There were also studies that show that those who dress smarter and wear make up to work are more often than not paid higher than others who dress not as sharp or do not groom themselves as well as their colleagues. 

Given this, I want to buy my sister a few sharp office outfits that are bound to impress and a few cosmetics to make her look lovelier. (Because she already thinks she's pretty.)

For R who makes my heart skip a beat every time, I want to give him the gift of HAPPINESS.

I know R is happy to some extent but no one can ever say that he or she is too happy. The nice thing about these gifts--health, success and happiness, is that it is limitless. I want him to experience a different kind of happiness through cooking. 

I love to bake and he likes sweets. I think that those two are perfect. A nice baking day would be a fun experience for us and a nice memory to keep (and hopefully yummy brownies to enjoy). 

Oh, let's also throw in a new pair of bedroom slippers as he had to give away the ones he recently bought. 

For myself, I want the gift of CREATIVITY.

Well, technically, you can't buy creativity (which I wish I could) but there are ways that could help me discover (if there is) and enhance my skills. 

I plan to buy some canvas to practice painting and hang on my empty wall my masterpiece no matter what it'll look like. I also intend to buy some oil pastel in case I fail with using real paint. Let's also add an apron for the artist feel. And if I surprisingly do well, I'll definitely give my love ones some artworks too!

But enough about me. Christmas is all about giving and merry-making. And one nice way to make someone happy is by supporting SM's Bears of Joy Campaign where for only PHP200, you get to buy two teddy bears, one for you to keep and another which will be given to orphanages supported by SM Cares Program. 

Another way is by checking your closet and doing some early Spring cleaning. See that old top that does not fit and the pair of pants that make you question your fashion taste? Well, someone else would be more than happy to wear it instead of those clothes aging and molding inside your wardrobe. 

Christmas truly is getting nearer and nearer. Make your list soon and shop early to avoid the maddening traffic. But don't forget to make this Christmas different from previous years. Make it more meaningful. And only you can define that.

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Beat the crowd and head to the SM near you and start ticking off items from your Christmas list. No idea what to get? Gift basket is always a safe option and starting at PHP350, it's not a bad idea at all! 

For more updates about this year's "Merry SM Christmas" campaign, visit SM's official Christmas microsite (http://www.smsupermalls.com/merrysmchristmas2015) and follow its official social media accounts at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; and get an insider access to all the fun happenings at SM Supermalls nationwide through Viber. Shoppers can actively share their holiday merriments inside the SM Supermalls by posting on social media and adding the hashtag #MerrySMChristmas2015.

Image credits:
-Workout shirt from Skreened.com
-Free weights from FitnessandFreebies.com
-Corporate look from Zara.com
-Brownies from Guidingstars.com
-Bunny slippers from Krisallendaily.com
-Oil pastel from site.artsheaven.com
-Spring cleaning from Epconlane.com